Template:Spanish name José Luis García Vayá (born 11 August 1998), commonly known as Pepelu, is a Spanish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Portuguese club Vitória S.C., on loan from Levante UD.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | José Luis García Vayá | ||
| Date of birth | 11 August 1998 | ||
| Place of birth | Dénia, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Vitória Guimarães (on loan from Levante) | ||
| Number | 19 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Dénia | |||
| 2012–2015 | Levante | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2014–2019 | Levante B | 110 | (14) |
| 2015– | Levante | 0 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | → Hércules (loan) | 30 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | → Tondela (loan) | 33 | (2) |
| 2020– | → Vitória Guimarães (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2014–2015 | Spain U17 | 15 | (2) |
| 2016 | Spain U18 | 2 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | Spain U19 | 7 | (0) |
| 2016 | Spain U20 | 6 | (0) |
| 2019– | Spain U21 | 3 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:57, 28 July 2020 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 November 2019 | |||
Club career
Born in Dénia, Alicante, Valencian Community, Pepelu joined Levante UD's youth setup in 2012, after starting it out at CD Dénia. On 24 June 2014, while still a youth, he renewed his contract until 2021,[1] and made his senior debut with the reserve team on 7 September, coming on as a half-time substitute in a Tercera División 1–1 home draw against CD Castellón.
On 15 December 2015 Pepelu made his first team debut, replacing Juanfran in a 1–2 Copa del Rey away loss against RCD Espanyol.[2] In August 2017, he was loaned to Hércules CF in Segunda División B, for one season.
Upon returning from loan, Pepelu was a regular starter for the B-side also in the third division, scoring a career-best six goals during the 2018–19 campaign. On 26 July 2019, he moved abroad for the first time in his career after agreeing to a one-year loan deal with Primeira Liga side C.D. Tondela.[3] A year later, he saved the club from relegation with a late penalty 2–1 winner at Moreirense F.C. on the final day, at Portimonense SC's expense.[4]
On 8 September 2020, Pepelu remained in Portugal for a further campaign, after agreeing to a one-year loan deal with Vitória S.C..[5]
References
- ^ "Pepelu amplía su contrato con el Levante UD hasta 2021" [Pepelu extends his contract with Levante UD until 2021] (in Spanish). Levante's official website. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
- ^ "Caicedo resuelve la eliminatoria" [Caicedo solves the tie] (in Spanish). Marca. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
- ^ "El Levante UD y el CD Tondela acuerdan la cesión de Pepelu" [Levante UD and CD Tondela agree the loan of Pepelu] (in Spanish). Levante UD. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
- ^ "PortuGOAL Figure of the Week: Natxo González guides Tondela to traditional final day heroics". PortuGOAL. 27 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
- ^ "El Levante UD y el Vitória Sport Clube acuerdan la cesión de Pepelu" [Levante UD and Vitória Sport Clube agree the loan of Pepelu] (in Spanish). Levante UD. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.